Bake, Rattle and Roll...

Hearts and Snowflakes

Sorry for the song title pun. It was Handsome's idea, and my geeky sense of humor actually loved it! Friday was a snowy day, so baking was the perfect way to spend it. I chose the snowflakes to match the day, and hearts because...well, aren't hearts always a good choice?

Frosted Hearts and Snowflake Cookies

I used my favorite cutout cookie and frosting recipes, and added colored gel to the icing for a sweet pink marbled look. I dipped some most of the cookies in sugar crystals to make them glisten, too. These are larger cutout cookies (except for the little hearts) so the recipe only yielded a dozen and a half, total.

I also made another batch of the Koulourakia cookies, so there are also three dozen of those. They're perfect with morning coffee or afternoon tea. At any rate, they'll be a nice, sweet treat to satisfy our cravings for a while.

That means today will be a good day to stitch! I'm going to settle into my favorite needlework chair, grab one of my current projects, and dance the day away.

Sweets For A Celebration...

2021 Holiday Cookie Assortment

I spent the past two days baking and decorating cookies, and making candies. There were a total of five dozen cookies, and two trays of candy.

2021 Holiday Cookies

I repeated the Santa cookies I made last year. They're one of my favorites. Of course, there had to be Labradors and Corgis, too. I thought the black-face sheep were a fun addition. I'll likely make more cookies before the end of the year, but these will be given away as gifts.

2021 Sweets

I also made one batch of fudge (top) and Reese's Peanut Butter Bars (bottom). I originally planned to make maple walnut fudge, but realized (right after Handsome got home from the grocery store) that I didn't have maple extract. 

Necessity being the mother of invention, I decided to switch up the recipe to use ingredients I had on hand. I made the recipe with hickory syrup and hickory nuts instead, and I'm so glad I did! I think the results were delicious. Then I made the peanut butter bars. I'm really going to have to pace myself so I don't gain back the weight I managed to lose in the past six weeks or so!

Today is Handsome and my wedding anniversary. We've made reservations this week to a restaurant in Plymouth, WI that came highly recommended by Son #1 and his wife. In fact, they gave us a gift certificate for Christmas, and this is the perfect time to use it. I can't imagine anyone I rather share a meal and a life with than my dear husband.

Happy Anniversary, Boyfriend. 

Yesterday's Efforts...

Brynwood Needleworks - French Baguettes

 

I went to Neenah (WI) first thing yesterday to pick up something special my niece's husband created for me, and of course, had to duck into Primitive Gatherings just down the road before heading back home. I had an order waiting there for me, so I saved the postage by picking it up. I also stopped at Hobby Lobby for a few things I needed, and turned for the farmhouse.

 

When I got back home, I mixed up the dough for French bread. I'm serving lasagna tomorrow, so I thought a baguette would be nice on the side. We'll be seeing our elder son, his wife, and our grandson on Christmas Day. Our son is making beef stew, so I offered to bring bread to the meal. After the dough was mixed and going through the first rise (30 minutes), I decorated the Christmas bell cookies with a lovely buttercream frosting I tinted red and green. Then, I set them aside so the icing could set up.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Santa Cookies

One of the things I bought at HobLob was a small vial of pink luster dust. I decided Santa needed rosy cheeks and pink lips. Don't you think it's an improvement?

Sending wishes to you and yours this Christmas Eve. Thank you for sharing a little of your time with me each day. Wishing you love and peace as we Christians celebrate the birth of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

More Cookies...

Brynwood Needleworks - Gingerbread Cookies

I made cookies again yesterday. I didn't count how many dozen I actually made (and Handsome is my taste-tester when I bake so sometimes cookies magically disappear lol), but I estimate I made about six dozen cookies (normal sized) and another dozen of the little gingerbread kids.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Black Lab and Corgi Cookies

I took my time, so even though I began around 10 am, I didn't finish what I managed to decorate around 9 pm.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Santas

All the cookies were decorated with royal icing, except the Santas. These were made with a cookie mold, so I wanted to maintain the detail. I used edible, silver luster dust, painted on with quickly evaporating vodka, and then royal icing berries and Santa's eyes, painted on. Lastly, I used an edible paint pen for the leaves.

Brynwood Needleworks - Christmas Bells (Still Need Icing)

I also made Christmas bells, but they'll be iced with regular cookie icing later today. I ran out of gas before I'd finished last night. 

I'm grateful that Handsome handled all the lifting (I have containers for 20# of flour and sugar, and a 5# lifting restriction until March. I couldn't do any other this without his help.) While I decorated, he came to the kitchen and did dishes for me, too. Even so, I was gassed by the time I was finished...and that was even taking breaks throughout the day. 

I'm making French bread and lasagna today. That way, I won't be doing any more work or cooking until after Christmas. I'll just put my feet up and relax the rest of the week. The best part, is that there are finished cookies that will be part of the gifts we share with loved ones over the holidays.

 

Ready To Party...

Brynwood Needleworks - Christmas Sheep Cookies

 

I originally planned to make sheep and quilt block cookies for the small gathering I'm attending today. Truthfully, I knew I wouldn't have the stamina to decorate the two different cookies (I'm only two weeks post op today!), so I opted to make just one of them this time.

As it was, the cookies mixed and baked in no time at all. It took me three hours to decorate 2-1/2 dozen. By the time I was finished...I was gassed. I made a cup of tea and put my feet up. I'm pleased with the results, and I think they'll be appreciated by the ladies today.

Rather than make another dish to pass, I signed up to bring a savory snack. I cheated. Handsome and I went to the store yesterday, and I chose a bagel dip (to serve with New York bagel chips), and a spinach dip (to serve with nice bread crisps). 

I'll be with the Sewcial Sisters today at Lisa's house on the lake. There are a number of the ladies who won't be attending because they're being Covid-cautious, but most of the people who'll be there have been sticking close to home this entire year, as we have. I'm sure we'll be just fine, and I personally need some socialization. I haven't been to many of the gatherings all year, and I'm missing my friends. A Christmas party is just the thing.

 

Brynwood Needleworks - Finished Pink Socks

The pink socks are finished, too. I finished them on Monday night. Now to decide what to work on next. 

In Case You Wondered...

Advent Wreath In Process

Frequently, when I post pictures of my finished work, be it canning, needlework or something else here at the farm, someone invariably comments that they don't know how I get so much done.

Truth is, most times, I work in fits and starts. I accomplish things in a flurry of activity, and then I have to rest and kick start again. Sometimes, I just sit in a chair and read or do needlework.

Yesterday was one of those days. Monday afternoon I drove to the Milwaukee area to go to a music concert with our elder daughter-in-law. We went to St. Paul's Episcopal Church to see a performance by Milwaukee Symphony's Concertmaster, Frank Almond and four of his musician friends.

It was a magical evening, and in some ways ushered in the Christmas season for me. I only wish Handsome could have been there with us. He would have loved the music.

Tag and I stayed overnight with our elder son, his wife and our grandson (and their black lab, Duncan). Tag had a ball while we were gone, and the guys had a football banquet to attend. We got back to the house and visited for a while before everyone headed off to bed. It was, after all, a work/school night for them.

Almost Done

On my way home, I stopped at JoAnn Fabrics to pick up a few supplies for an idea I'd been working on.  Sunday isn't just my Birthday (Yup. It's that time of year again!). Most importantly, it's the first Sunday of Advent on the Christian calendar. I wanted to have an Advent Wreath this year, so I needed the candles and wreath to make a centerpiece for our dining room table.

The only thing I forgot were candle holders for tapers to set in the center. I learned my lesson about burning candles decades ago (when I nearly burned down our home during a cocktail party), so I will have the candles in fire-safe holders inside a glass container - and the each candle will be lit on each of the four Sundays in Advent while I'm in the room with them. No unattended burning candles in a hundred year old farmhouse!

I added little cardinals to my sparkling wreath, and there are three purple candles, with the one rose-colored candle to signify the eve of Christ's birth. That will be the last candle burned.

Kathy Schmitz Needlework

 

I spent much of the rest of the day reading, and then pulled out one of the last Kathy Schmitz embroidery projects for the other quilt I've been working on. I think there's only one more block after I finish this one!

Today, I'll be making six dozen cookies for a cookie exchange party I'm attending on my Birthday. Aside from my chocolate chip cookies, I haven't mass-produced (six dozen is "mass produced" for me!) a batch of cookies. Each person who attends was asked to bring that many for the exchange. There will be contests and games and such, and I'm looking forward to going. 

 

I'm making cutout cookies that I'll decorate. I'm not sure I'll get all of that done today. I may bake them today and then decorate them tomorrow. I might decide to sit and stitch a bit more. We'll see how it goes.

Cookie Cutters, Old and New...

Vintage Cookie Cutters

I'm going to a Cookie Exchange my niece is hosting next weekend.

I need to make six dozen cookies, and apparently they choose best tasting and I'm not sure what else. Knowing my personality, I guess you already know that I won't just make a simple drop cookie for this party.

I pulled out my tin of vintage cookie cutters, and a box filled with newer ones. The tin of vintage cookie cutters belonged to my mother-in-law, Evelyn. There were trees, santas, stars, hearts, and even a set of card suits to make cookies for bridge night!

New vs. Old

Then, I opened up my storage box for all the various newer cutters I've purchased over the years, including a corgi cookie cutter from Tasha Tudor's online store! I couldn't help but notice how cookie sizes have changed over the years. It surely demonstrates how McDonalds isn't the only place you can find something "super sized"! 

The pink-edged, heart shaped cutter is a newer one, and the two hearts on the right were Evelyn's. The new one is about three times the size of the old ones! Kind of explains how clothing sizes have upsized, too!

 

Supersized Cookies

 

These cookies would be as large as my hand! While that's nice. I'm surely not going to make six dozen in this size! (I'm not making the hearts either.) I'll show you what I chose after I make and decorate them.

  Today is our elder son and daughter-in-law's 24th wedding anniversary!  I'll see them later today. There's dinner and a concert in my immediate future. HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! May you celebrate many more together.